VIRGINIA CAVALIERS

THE COACH
Mike London
1st year at U.Va.
3rd year overall (24-5 at Richmond)London, a Hampton native, moves from one of the elite Football Championship Subdivision teams to a Football Bowl Subdivision program in a serious rebuilding mode. He's two years removed from an FCS national championship at Richmond, so he brings a winning formula, even though this will be his first foray into FBS head coaching. Now, he'll need to inject a winning attitude in Charlottesville with the help of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor's pro-style approach and defensive coordinator Jim Reid's 4-3 alignment, which will be a change from the 3-4 U.Va. used under former coach Al Groh.

Ras-I Dowling
Sr. | 6-2 | 200 | CBHe finished seventh in the ACC last season with 11 pass breakups, including three interceptions, and he enters this fall considered one of the top cornerbacks in the conference.

THE STORYLINES1. To put it in the simplest terms possible, Verica has to be more composed. In 2008, he completed 64 percent of his pass attempts for 2,037 yards, but he also threw just eight touchdowns and 16 interceptions. His ability to be efficient in the red zone and avoid the rush will be critical if U.Va. hopes to improve what was the 105th rated passing offense (171 yards per game) last season. With no experienced backups, Verica presents U.Va.'s best chance to develop some semblance of a passing game.

2. Though the options are plentiful, there's no telling which running back will emerge as the workhorse of the bunch. Sophomore Perry Jones had a strong spring and has been good in the preseason, but redshirt freshman Dominique Wallace, sophomore Torrey Mack and seniors Keith Payne and Raynard Horne are also vying for playing time. Mack is the leading returning rusher, but that doesn't mean much considering he had 23 carries for 73 yards last season. How about freshman sensation Kevin Parks? London would love to redshirt Parks, but London might have to use him if the running game sputters early on.

3. Perhaps the most intriguing position in Reid's newly installed 4-3 alignment is outside linebacker, where several converted safeties will get a crack at bringing some speed and athleticism closer to the line of scrimmage. Sophomores LaRoy Reynolds, Ausar Walcott and Phoebus High product LoVante Battle were moved up in the spring to provide depth at outside linebacker. Based on the performances of the trio, London and his staff will get a good read on what kind of players they need to target in recruiting efforts for outside linebacker.

4. For a team that will be starving for playmakers, it's encouraging that there's at least potential for strong play at tight end and wide receiver. Burd had just seven catches for 65 yards as a freshman in '08, during Verica's last season as a starter, but Burd became a much more dependable option last season. Receivers Tim Smith and Jared Green both had 15 catches last season. At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Joe Torchia (15 catches last season) must play a bigger role. After the tragic death of his father in a plane crash in Alaska, how much does 6-6, 250-pound tight end Colter Phillips deserve a breakout season?

5. Considering how much good will London and his staff have been able to foster across the state in terms of recruiting (20 commitments for 2011, including 12 in-state), having a modicum of sustained success during the season is essential to continue the momentum. If U.Va. somehow manages to pull out a .500 or better season in London's first year, it would go a long way toward instilling confidence that things are on the right track. Another 3-9 or worse season wouldn't do much for the future stock of London and Co. in the eyes of recruits.

THE SCHEDULESept. 4 | vs. RichmondIntriguing matchup for London, who faces his alma mater and former employer in a game that could be more challenging than expected.

Sept. 11 | at Southern CaliforniaDespite being banned from bowl play for two years and losing 30 scholarships in the offseason, the Trojans won't take it easy on the Cavaliers in coach Lane Kiffin's first home game.

Sept. 25 | vs. Virginia Military InstituteIn the first meeting of the teams since 1991, the Cavaliers should push their winning streak to nine games against the Keydets. If they don't oh boy.

Oct. 2 | vs. Florida StateU.Va.'s conference-opener will be hard to handle, as the Cavaliers face one of the nation's best offensive lines and the ACC's top quarterback in Christian Ponder.

Oct. 9 | at Georgia TechReid will have his 4-3 scheme tested by quarterback Josh Nesbitt and coach Paul Johnson's option. Georgia Tech crushed U.Va. 34-9 last season, but the Cavaliers have won five of the last seven.

Oct. 16 | vs. North CarolinaThough UNC has more talent, U.Va. has history on its side, as it has won seven of the last eight meetings and 14 consecutive home games in the series dating back to 1983.

Oct. 23 | vs. Eastern MichiganThe first meeting of the programs, and possibly U.Va.'s last shot at an easy victory. Eastern Michigan was 106th in the nation in total defense last season, and 116th in total offense.

Oct. 30 | vs. MiamiThe Hurricanes return nine defensive starters after laying a 52-17 loss last season on the Cavaliers in a game in which U.Va. scored 14 points as a direct result of blocked punts.

Nov. 6 | at DukeIn terms of ACC play, nothing must be more frustrating for U.Va. than to have a two-game losing streak against Duke and it could reach three games.

Nov. 13 | vs. MarylandDepending on how motivated Maryland's players are in this one, U.Va. could face a surprisingly stern test if the Terrapins are playing for coach Ralph Friedgen's job.

Nov. 20 | at Boston CollegeU.Va. has lost all four meetings against BC, which features running back Montel Harris and the best comeback story in the country in linebacker Mark Herzlich.

Nov. 27 | at Virginia TechThe losing streak, which has now reached six games (and 10 of the last 11), has to end sometime, right? Sure just not this season.

THE EXPECTATION4-8. While the Richmond game is causing a lot of preseason heartburn among the pessimists, U.Va. should get the win. VMI, Eastern Michigan and either UNC or Maryland also present opportunities for U.Va., but it's hard to identify winnable games anywhere else on the schedule.